If I had to describe Matt and Kim in one sentence it would be this: they are one of the world’s greatest live bands who you’ve probably never seen. And it’s not like anyone would blame you for it. Sure, you might know a couple of songs, and they’re always fun to listen to, but nothing screams “these guys would TOTALLY own live”. But, alas, they totally do.
To give you an idea of how their pop-centric synth music changes in the live setting, the band chose hip hop up-and-comer Jackie Onassis to play just before they hit the stage. On paper this was an odd fit, and one that didn’t gel with everyone in the crowd; it was a notably tough audience for the talented MC. But for those who have seen Matt and Kim’s live show, it made perfect sense. And this was my third time seeing the duo in the last six weeks (see my words about them at SXSW HERE). You see, Matt and Kim LOVE pumping up the crowd with hip hop throughout the set, while Kim shakes her booty and climbs onto the audience. For those new to the band’s live show, this is surprising – perhaps even confronting – but a hell of a lot of fun. And for those who have been seeing them live for years – well, this is why they’ve been seeing them live for years. You can’t leave a Matt and Kim show without a smile on your face
So with this in mind, Jackie Onassis was a perfect choice. MC Kai rapped with skill and conviction and used artists like Grizzly Bear and Flume as his backing tracks, which in theory should have worked well with a crowd like this, but as I mentioned, they weren’t an easy sell. But he gave it his all and certainly impressed more than enough in the room to make it a memorable performance. He closed things up with the popular single “Crystal Balling”.
And then Matt and Kim hit this stage with immediate ferocity, jumping from their own synth-tastic hits into some sweet hip hop and dance jams, from Deejay’s “Better Off Alone” all the way to Ludacris’ “Move Bitch (Get Out the Way)”. It’s a finely tuned show, mixed in with plenty of banter and with the duo showing off their love of each other from start to finish; usually in a raunchy manner. I’m all for it. But it’s their energy that makes the fun so infectious, not to mention their huge grins from ear to ear. When they say they don’t take this shit for granted, you know they mean it.
And that is, in a nutshell, why Matt and Kim are one of the best live bands on the planet. They know how to bring it night after night, pumping out everything from “Good Ol’ Fashion Nightmare” to “Daylight” and all your favourites in between – and tonight, Sydney’s Oxford Art Factory (their third time playing the venue; a record for an international artist) was no exception.
